Career change ideas

It can be difficult to come up with career change ideas, particularly if you’ve been in the same profession for a number of years. Whilst you may be certain your current role is no longer a good fit, figuring out what might suit you better is not always straightforward.

A good place to start with career planning can be drawing up a list of your strengths and values. Understanding what you’re good at and what is important to you, will clarify what you want from a career and what you have to offer the job market.

A low risk way to try out new career paths, or simply to pin down what you enjoy doing is to try lots of new things. Talk to your network about their current roles and projects and if something sounds interesting, ask to get involved. Start networking, go to workshops and conferences, take a new class just for fun, volunteer and say yes to that extra project at work. Experimenting with different tasks is a great way to pin down what you do and don’t want to do and in the process you’re bound to generate even more opportunities to explore.

If you don’t feel confident enough to get started on you own, there are plenty of career and life coaches who may be able to help you work out your next steps.

A change of career doesn’t always mean a move into a brand new profession, options include:

Taking a career break

Setting up your own business

Taking on additional or multiple roles

Re-training

Following a new career path

These days it’s commonplace to chop and change careers throughout your working life. The average person works for over 45 years of their life and in that time the business landscape will change significantly. Some companies will thrive and others will disappear, new sectors will arise and existing ones fade; all of which can affect your career path.

Equally, you will work in environments where you thrive and for managers you enjoy working for, as well as areas you may struggle in and managers who frustrate you.

During your career, you will be on a constant journey of self-discovery, regularly identifying new knowledge about yourself including your strengths, how you react when under pressure, how you like to be managed and your preferred methods of communication. All of these factors will influence the decisions you make about your working life.

Often, time and experience are needed before you can truly understand how you perform best in the work environment and areas where you struggle. Identifying this information about yourself can help to drive key decisions that will change your working life for the better. Therefore, a career change at any stage in your working life is not uncommon.

Making a change can be uplifting, but make sure you’ve done your research before going for it. You will be your most satisfied self if you play to your strengths and work in an environment that brings out the best in you.

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At Thomas International we are looking to recruit people with drive and enthusiasm to support the ongoing growth of the organisation. Thomas has been at the forefront of assessment innovation for 35 years and we have big plans for expansion.

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